LIVINGSTON, NJ — With Livingston resident Vivek Bedi’s brand new mobile application mySwapp, users can exchange new or old belongings with others in the community. MySwapp, which was founded to change the way people consume products by resurrecting the “barter system,” launched an updated version May 7 that is ready to be used.

Last year, the toy and book industries made $22 billion and $27 billion respectively, which the mySwapp team said is wasteful for families who buy these items, use them a few times or read them once and then let them take up room at home. mySwapp’s goal is for people to stop wasting and start swapping. According to Bedi, mySwapp brings back the old school philosophy of “swapping” through the generation’s digital lifestyle by allowing users to see something they want on the mobile app and offer something in return.

“It’s bringing back that whole barter system we used when we were younger — you know how you would trade your sandwich for another sandwich as a Kindergartener?” Bedi said. “As consumers, we did a lot of research and there’s a lot of waste that’s happening and we wanted to say, ‘You know what let’s swap things.’”

Bedi realized the need for this application when he realized how much money, time and plastic his family was wasting with all the toys the children bought and never used again. He said that with today’s ability to be "connected" with anyone, anywhere, anytime, thanks to smartphones and other devices, there should be a way to swap these lightly-used items with others who want them in exchange for something else.

According to Bedi, the mySwapp exchange is simple: users see something they want and offer something that they'd like to exchange for it. Once both users accept, mySwapp lists the nearest locations, they pick one, pick a date and the meeting to swap these items is set up.

The application is free to download from the App Store, free to post an item and free to swap. According to Bedi, the target markets are college students, who he said would majorly benefit from the swap setup, and local parents. Bedi, the father of a three-year-old and a six-year-old, found this system beneficial for both his kids, who quickly grew out of action figure phases, and his wife, who reads books once and leaves them on a shelf.

“Our whole goal is to change the way people think,” Bedi said. “Our end goal is just to see how far this can go, changing the way that we consume and bringing back that barter system that we grew up on with a digital twist.”

So far, one of the mySwapp team’s biggest successes has been their recent invitation to New York Tech Day, an annual event at Pier 90 where they were able to present the app for further publicity in the area.

Bedi, a Rutgers University graduate, was working professionally with technology products for more than 15 years when he became passionate about changing the way consumers waste the products they buy. The mySwapp application married his passion with his technological skills to help people to stop wasting and start swapping.

LIVINGSTON, NJ — In the aftermath of Thursday night’s snowstorm, Livingston Interim Superintendent of Schools James O’Neill said that Thursday night was one of the most difficult he has had in more than 40 years of working in education. He provided the following statement about his experience:

“It was difficult because I always feel personally responsible for student safety and wellbeing. It ...

EDITOR'S NOTE: Livingston schools have since been closed for Friday, Nov. 16.

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Some students were still being held at Livingston schools after 7 p.m. on Thursday after snow quickly accumulated during rush hour, according to Livingston police, who are still working vigorously to help drivers navigate the snow and get home safely.

“Everybody’s safe, it’s just a matter of ...

EDITOR'S NOTE: Livingston schools have since been closed for Friday, Nov. 16.

WEST ORANGE , NJ — They raided the kitchen, turned the auditorium into a movie theater and played games in the gym—that’s how West Orange educators helped students stranded at the schools to weather the storm that paralyzed the region on Thursday night.

Photos from around the district showed smiling students with ice cream, grinning staffers who prepared food for the students and some kids ...

WEST ORANGE , NJ — They raided the kitchen, turned the auditorium into a movie theater and played ...

LIVINGSTON, NJ – With the annual Great American Smokeout coming up on Thursday, Nov. 15, the Livingston Health Department is encouraging residents to join in the country’s annual effort to quit smoking for 24 hours.

Despite a decrease in the number of people who currently smoke cigarettes, there are still about 40 million adults in the United States that smoke, accorging to the health ...

LIVINGSTON, NJ – With the annual Great American Smokeout coming up on Thursday, Nov. 15, the ...

LIVINGSTON, NJ — For its annual fall production coming up later this week, Livingston High School (LHS) will present “Midsummer/Jersey,” which puts a Jersey Shore twist on William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Tickets can be purchased online HERE or at the door for the three performances, which will be held in the LHS auditorium on Nov. 15, 16 and 17 at 6:30 ...

LIVINGSTON, NJ — For its annual fall production coming up later this week, Livingston High School ...

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Eighteen Livingston community members recently graduated from the Livingston Police Department’s first Citizens Police Academy—a free 10-week program designed to give participants an understanding of the inner workings of the police department and a working knowledge of what law enforcement entails.

HILLSIDE, NJ — Three levels of a local service organizations recently came together in an act of community service when the Livingston High School Key Club and the Heritage Middle School (HMS) Builders' Club took a joint field trip to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside along with members of their umbrella organization, the Livingston Kiwanis Club.

Although members of the Key ...

HILLSIDE, NJ — Three levels of a local service organizations recently came together in an act of ...

WEST ORANGE, NJ — More than $160,000 was raised at RWJBarnabas Health’s (RWJBH) second annual Running with the Devils 5K Run and Walk in support of RWJBH and the New Jersey Devils’ collective effort to build stronger communities by promoting healthy, active lifestyles and world-class healthcare.

Proceeds from the race, held at Essex County’s South Mountain Recreation Complex in West Orange, ...

WEST ORANGE, NJ — More than $160,000 was raised at RWJBarnabas Health’s (RWJBH) second annual ...

RIDGE, NJ — the Livingston High School Forensics Speech and Debate Team came away with nine awards, including the fourth place team sweepstakes trophy, from the second Newark CFL tournament for the season at Ridge High School on Saturday.

The following students won awards:

Jaina Jallow, First Place in Varsity Declamation

Bela Battu, First Place in JV Oral Interpretation

Neel Sahni and ...

RIDGE, NJ — the Livingston High School Forensics Speech and Debate Team came away with nine awards, ...